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National Games in Celebration of Silver Jubilee in Jordan

January 18, 2012

In celebration of its Silver Jubilee, SO Jordan held its 11th national games under the patronage of HRH Prince Ra’ad Bin Hamoud, President of SO Jordan and in collaboration with the Japanese aid agency JAICA.

Bocce is one of the popular sports in Jordan .

400 Athletes Compete in 4 Sports

Four hundred athletes representing 34 sports centers competed in basketball, football, bocce and athletics within the Games, which were hosted at the Jordanian University’s stadium. The basketball competitions were enriched by the participation of a Palestinian team along with SO Jordan’s athletes and partners from various schools at age categories 16-21 and above 30 years.Commenting on the Palestinian participation, Head of the Palestinian delegation and SO Palestine National Director Nizar Basalat said, “Even though the participation of the Palestinian team came on very short notice, our champs didn’t disappoint us.”The event attracted large crowds of Jordanian university students, heads of special education centers, school students and athletes’ family members. See the Photos“Held on annual basis, this year’s games came synchronous with the SO Jordan’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. Because of this, the program’s board of directors was keen to have the Games held in a special manner in terms of the number of participants, competitions, and games’ program,” said SO Jordan’s National Director Dr. Ali Al Shawahin highlighting the Palestinian participation.Founded in 1986, SO Jordan joined the Special Olympics International. Even though the program faced enormous difficulties at the beginning due to the severe lack in facilities, it displayed outstanding performance and managed to achieve its objectives through partaking in almost all of the international events.With no more than 10 athletes at the dawn of operation, SO Jordan has today become an active SO program with more than 4000 athletes, 180 coaches and 280 volunteers practicing 14 sports.The Games were concluded by the crowning ceremonies through which winners were decorated with medals and handed trophies by Dr. Ali Al Shawahin, Mr. Mohammad Nasser and Nizar Basalat.